Dallas, TX
Cowboys vs Steelers: Each team’s X-factor player for Week 5
The Dallas Cowboys walk in to Week 5 looking like the “great unknown.” With a lengthy list of injuries, young guys hoping to step up, the bottom line still remains Dallas is trying to get back above .500 early in the season.
The Steelers won’t be an easy matchup as they present a lot of unique challenges the Cowboys struggle to contend with, but with a tough schedule on the horizon, every game is vitally important to Dallas if they are hoping to do something significant this season.
Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele is in for a long night Sunday as he prepares to face off against T.J. Watt. The Steelers pass rusher does the majority of his work form the defenses left side, which has him locking horns with Steele for much of the night.
The two have matched up before with Steele holding up well, but an encore performance is needed in Week 5. How Steele is able to answer the bell this week and key Dak Prescott upright will go a long way in determining if Dallas has a chance on Sunday night.
Look for Watt to find some success, as he naturally does each week. But how Steele and this game plan is able to limit him this week has a chance to tell it all after Week 5.
Pittsburgh Steelers X-factor: Najee Harris
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The Steelers running back room is banged up right now with Jaylen Warren out and Cordarrelle Patterson missing the game as well. Those absences put the burden on Najee Harris’ shoulders as he looks to develop and sustain a running game against this poor Cowboys rush defense.
The Steelers will be limited in their options beyond Harris with former Cowboy Aaron Shampklin in line for some carries, but Dallas can expect to see Harris get the lion’s share of the work.
Harris has struggled a bit to get going this season in the new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s system, but with the Cowboys reputation for being poor against the run, and Pittsburgh coming off of a tough loss to the Indianapolis Colts, there is a real chance they will look to come in and try to force the run a little bit.
Quarterback Justin Fields has done some nice things this season, but he hasn’t been consistent enough for them to lean heavily on the passing game. If that is the case once again, we can expect to see a healthy dose of Harris on Sunday night and Dallas better be ready to answer the call.
Dallas, TX
Dallas weighs $500 million‑plus repair plans as City Hall’s future comes up for debate
Dallas, TX
Dallas weather: Flash flooding strands vehicles near DFW Airport after heavy rain
DALLAS – Slow-moving thunderstorms brought localized flash flooding to parts of North Texas on Tuesday evening, blocking highways near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and dropping several inches of rain in portions of Tarrant and Parker counties.
Flash Flood Warnings
Local perspective:
Flash flood warnings are in effect for Hopkins, Hunt, Rains and Van Zandt counties until 7:45 p.m.
Flooding was reported along Texas 183 near Valley View Lane south of DFW Airport, where stranded vehicles and water-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
A flash flood warning remained in effect near the airport, although rainfall rates had begun to diminish as the storm weakened.
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
The National Weather Service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for northern Hood County, citing the potential for gusty winds and small hail. Forecasters reported hail ranging from pea-sized to marble-sized in parts of Hood, Parker and Denton counties.
Forecasters attributed the weakening storms in Denton County to an outflow boundary, a meteorological feature that can disrupt thunderstorm development.
The warning area was reduced as the storm weakened near sunset.
LIVE RADAR
What they’re saying:
FOX 4’s Kylie Capps said the storms moved unusually slowly from east to west, allowing heavy rain to accumulate over the same areas for several hours.
Rainfall estimates showed some locations in eastern Parker County and western Tarrant County received nearly 5 inches of rain during a six-hour period, while areas near DFW Airport recorded more than 2 inches.
Elsewhere in North Texas, northern Rains County received nearly 5 inches of rain.
7-Day Forecast
What’s next:
Forecasters expect a quieter overnight period, with only isolated showers lingering into the evening. Additional thunderstorms are possible Wednesday afternoon, though coverage and the threat of severe weather are expected to remain limited.
Temperatures are forecast to reach about 90 degrees Wednesday.
Rain chances are expected to continue through the remainder of the workweek and into the weekend as an upper-level low-pressure system sends multiple disturbances across North Texas.
The Source: Information in this article was provided by FOX 4’s Weather Team
Dallas, TX
Dallas Cowboys’ Path To NFC East Crown Gets Easier After June 1 NFL Trade Frenzy
Monday was a wild day for the NFL with two blockbuster trades. First was Myles Garrett, who both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to have interest in.
Cowboys fans never bought into these rumors, knowing that Jerry Jones was unlikely to make such an investment. The Eagles, however, have been known to get aggressive. Thankfully for Dallas fans, they didn’t make the move as the Cleveland Browns sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a package of picks.
Not long after that trade was finalized, the Eagles did wind up making a trade. After months of speculation surrounding A.J. Brown and the New England Patriots, the two sides made it official as Brown was reunited with Mike Vrabel in exchange for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Dallas Cowboys could take the NFC East crown in 2026
The writing has been on the wall all offseason regarding Brown, who has been unhappy with the Eagles for a while. His departure seemed confirmed when they traded up with Dallas in the 2026 NFL draft for USC receiver Makai Lemon.
While Lemon has the tools to be a difference-maker, he won’t be able to perform at the same level as Brown during his rookie season. The Eagles do still have DeVonta Smith at receiver as well as running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Jalen Hurts.
That said, there’s no denying that they’re weaker this season than they were with Brown. Just as important, however, is the fact that general manager Howie Roseman didn’t pull off a shocking move for Garrett, which would have made them the overwhelming favorites in the division.
Cowboys chances hinge on defensive changes
Another reason the Cowboys are confident they can hang with Philadelphia this season is the presence of Christian Parker, who they hired as their defensive coordinator after he spent the past two seasons as the passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Eagles.
Parker brings in a new scheme and plenty of confidence, but more importantly, he has several new weapons at his disposal. Dallas traded for veterans Rashan Gary and Dee Winters, signed Jalen Thompson and Cobie Durant, and selected Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence in the draft.
Those are just some of the moves they made on defense, and they’re banking on that to be enough to help propel them past the team that has won the division the past two seasons.
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